Foxtrot Reverse Wave

The Reverse Wave is a Silver Level figure. This online reference gives a detailed description of the dance steps, including timing, footwork, alignment, and movement; steps diagram; a list of figures that may precede or follow the pattern; and videos providing instruction and demonstration of the figure, techniques and practice routines that include it.

Leader

Step	Timing	Movement	Alignment	Footwork	Turn	Sway	CBM	Rise & Fall	Notes
1	S	LF fwd	Facing LOD	HT	start to turn L	S	CBM	rise e/o 1
2	Q	RF to side	Backing Wall	T	1/4 between 1-2	L		Up
3	Q	LF back	Backing DW	TH	1/8 between 2-3	L		Up. Lower e/o 3
4	S	RF back	Backing DW	TH	start to turn L	S	CBM	--
5	Q	LF back	Curving towards LOD	T	1/8 between 4-6	R		Rise e/o 5
6	Q	RF back	Backing LOD	TH	--	R		Up. Lower e/o 6
7	S	LF back	Backing LOD	TH	start to turn to R	S	CBM	--
8	S	RF to side small step (Heel Pull)	Facing DC	H, IE of foot, whole foot then IE of LF	3/8 between 7-8	L		--
9	S	LF fwd	Facing DC	H	Body turn to L	S	CBM	--

Special Note -- Although the rise is taken from the T of LF on step 5, when the RF starts to move back for step 6 the R Heel must be in contact with the floor.

Note -- There are five alignments of the Reverse Wave

1. Facing LOD 3/8 between 1-3, 1/8 between 4-6, 3/8 between 7-8 (or less at corner)
2. Facing LOD 3/8 between 1-3, 1/4 between 4-6 to back DW of new LOD, 1/4 between 7-8
3. Facing DW 1/2 between 1-3, then continue as in alignment (1)
4. Facing DW 1/2 between 1-3, then continue as in alignment (2)
5. Facing DC 3/8 between 1-3, 1/4 between 4-6 to back the new LOD, 3/8 between 7-8.

Follower

Step	Timing	Movement	Alignment	Footwork	Turn	Sway	CBM	Rise & Fall	Notes
1	S	RF back	Backing LOD	TH	start to turn L	S	CBM	rise slightly e/o 1, NFR	RF back, then keep head there. Anchor R shoulder down. L side positive.
2	Q	LF closes to RF (Heel Turn)	Facing DW	HT	3/8 between 1-2	R		continue to rise on 2	Lady heel turn, keep head, turning body underneath, effectively head is now shaped to right. Leave shoulder still turned to R, not flat with Man at this time. Like winding up for next move.
3	Q	RF fwd	Facing DW	TH	--	R		Up. Lower e/o 3
4	S	LF fwd	Facing DW (moving to wall)	H	start to turn L	S	CBM	--	Wave part: Use R leg, range of motion, curve with Man, stay with his right side. slowly turning head back smoothly. L shoulder connected to LF. R shoulder forward at this time. LF fwd, Really push L hip diagonally forward (but not locked), side leading
5	Q	RF fwd	Curving towards LOD	HT	1/8 between 4-6	L		Rise e/o 5	Heel lead. Really swing hip to R, to Man, use L leg under butt muscle. Produce a curve starting from, then with leg and body, coming out from head. Use R leg, bring L leg underneath body. Head curve leftwards. Drive with the leg, not upper body.
6	Q	LF fwd	Facing LOD	TH	--	L		Up. Lower e/o 6
7	S	RF fwd	Facing LOD	HT	start to turn R	S	CBM	--
8	S	LF to side	Backing DC	TH, then IE of T of RF	3/8 between 7-8	R		--
9	S	RF back having brushed to LF	Backing DC	T	Body turn to L	S	CBM	--

• Reverse Wave can be extended. Add the following steps SQQ after step 6:
• Man: continue BLOD
• S: TH, LF back, 
• Q: T, RF back, R shoulder leading
• Q: TH, LF back in CBMP
• Lady: continue facing LOD. Poise is not back weight, but shoulder is dancing in the back of the feet, do not fall forward. 
• S: HT, RF fwd
• Q: T, LF fwd, L shoulder leading, prepare to step OP. Relax R shoulder down, Allow left thighs and knee to dance forward, ahead of body. Drive out of R hipo. Swing up and forward.
• Q: TH, RF fwd, CBMP, OP. Pull RF underneath the body. Body is shaping back, which is because center of body is going forward, not bending backward. 
• then continue from step 4 again. 
• Head: can keep head left, or shape to R. The feeling is legs are dancing ahead of body.